Historic conviction: Ex-Colombian President Alvaro Uribe sentenced to 12 years of house arrest; found guilty of witness tampering
A Colombian judge on Friday sentenced former President Álvaro Uribe to 12 years of house arrest after finding him guilty of witness tampering and procedural fraud. The sentence, which is expected to be publicly announced later on Friday, marks the first time in Colombia's history that a former head of state has been convicted of a crime and sentenced.
Uribe, who governed Colombia from 2002 to 2010, was found guilty of asking right-wing paramilitaries to lie about their alleged links to him. A judge on Monday ruled that he had committed two offenses: interfering with witnesses and "procedural fraud."
While in office, Uribe led an aggressive military campaign against drug cartels and the FARC guerrilla group. He remains a significant figure in Colombian politics and is credited by many with restoring state control during a period of conflict.
However, critics have long accused him of colluding with armed right-wing paramilitary groups to eliminate leftist rebels.
Uribe, now 73, maintains his innocence and is expected to appeal the ruling.
Known as a law-and-order hardliner, Uribe was a close US ally during his presidency and continues to have strong ties with the American right.
US secretary of state
Marco Rubio
condemned the prosecution, stating it showed "the weaponization of Colombia's judicial branch by radical judges,' though he offered no evidence for the claim.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
United News of India
25 minutes ago
- United News of India
Hamas refutes Steve Witkoff's statement on disarmament, vows to continue fighting IDF
Gaza, Aug 2 (UNI) Refuting a reported statement by the US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, that Hamas had decided to lay down its arms in Gaza, the organisation said it would not disarm 'as long as the occupation exists.' The terror group vowed to continue its violent struggle, claiming its fight to deliver Palestine its 'national rights' were realised and supported by international law, adding 'foremost among them… the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty and Jerusalem as its capital.' Hamas went on to slam Witkoff's visit to the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation run by Israel and the US, amid reports of starvation in the region, and that hundreds of Palestinian aid seekers had been killed near the agency's four distribution sites in the south and center of the enclave since they started operating in mid-May, reports Times of Israel. 'The American administration is a full partner in the crime of starvation and genocide,' said Hamas. It added that Witkoff's visit was 'nothing more than a pre-arranged theatrical performance' to provide Israel with 'political cover for managing starvation and continuing the systematic killing of children and unarmed civilians from our people.' Condemning Washington, the terror group called on the White House 'to bear its historical responsibility by lifting the cover from the crime of the century in Gaza and moving toward a ceasefire agreement that leads to ending the aggression.' Israel on the other hand has completely denied reports of deliberately starving anyone in Gaza or stopping international aid to the residents of the war-torn region, accusing Hamas of instead of seizing all aid and using Gazans as human shields and as tools for propagating its rhetoric. GHF, which seeks to circumvent Hamas in the distribution of aid, launched its operations in May, sidelining the longstanding UN-led humanitarian system just as Israel was beginning to ease a more than two-month aid blockade it had imposed on Gaza. However, there has been a drastic death toll near its aid centres, amid Hamas' constant attacks in the area and their skirmishes with the IDF, with Jerusalem also acknowledging the casualties.
Deccan Herald
2 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
Read of the Week (Aug 3 to Aug 9)
At the turn of the century, the Central Intelligence Agency was in crisis. The end of the Cold War had robbed the agency of its mission. Then came September 11, 2001. After the attacks, the CIA transformed itself into a lethal paramilitary force, running secret prisons and brutal interrogations, mounting deadly drone attacks, and all but abandoning its core missions of espionage and counterespionage. The consequences were grave: the deaths of scores of its recruited foreign agents, the theft of its personnel files by Chinese spies, the penetration of its computer networks by Russian intelligence and American hackers, and the tragedies of Afghanistan and Iraq..A new generation of spies now must fight the hardest targets while confronting a president who has attacked the CIA as a subversive force. From Pulitzer Prize winner Tim Weiner comes The Mission, which tells the gripping, high-stakes story of the CIA through the first quarter of the 21st century, revealing how the agency fought to rebuild the espionage powers it lost during the War on Terror and finally succeeded in penetrating the Kremlin. .Tim Weiner has won the Pulitzer Prize for his reporting on American national security and the National Book Award for Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
India begins groundwork for US tariff deal, ministries told to draft sector-wise concessions: Report
Facing pressure from Trump's 25 per cent tariff, the Indian government has launched an inter-ministerial effort to draw up trade concessions ahead of key negotiations. With a US delegation set to arrive on August 25, key economic ministries have been directed to prepare sector-specific proposals read more President Donald Trump with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House. The 25 per cent tariff and Russian penalty on India comes even as officials continue to hammer out a trade deal, which has been ongoing since February. File image/AP In response to US President Donald Trump's sweeping 25 per cent tariff imposition on Indian goods, New Delhi has launched a cross-ministerial exercise to identify trade concessions it can offer in upcoming negotiations. With a high-level US delegation set to arrive on August 25, key economic ministries have been directed to prepare sector-specific proposals, The Indian Express reported. The Trump administration is seeking deeper market access than India has previously committed to, pressing for broad tariff reductions and the removal of non-tariff trade barriers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The 25 per cent tariff, effective from August 7, is compounded by a separate, unspecified 'penalty' tied to India's defense and energy imports from Russia. According to the report, government departments have already begun submitting possible concession packages. In some cases, such as oil refining, adjustments are underway, with refiners beginning to cut back on Russian crude purchases. However, sources warned against retaliatory posturing in response to Trump's provocations, no matter how inflammatory they may be. 'This is a time for pragmatism, not posturing,' one official noted. Although Trump had originally listed India among his top trade priorities, progress has been sluggish, leading to mounting frustration in Washington. Like other countries navigating Trump's tariff tactics, India has followed a cautious approach, offering selective concessions while safeguarding its economic interests and shielding vulnerable domestic sectors. Observers note that several nations that rushed to sign trade deals with the US—such as the UK and Australia, emerged with lopsided agreements that disproportionately benefited Washington, particularly in cases where trade deficits existed. New Delhi had long operated on the assumption that the US would maintain a 10–20% tariff differential between India and China, and continue to respect India's longstanding trade red lines. These include opposition to genetically modified (GM) crops and the need to protect its vast, labor-intensive manufacturing base that underpins much of its export economy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Officials remain cautious on sensitive agricultural imports, particularly soybeans, corn, and dairy, despite already proposing tariff cuts on 55 per cent of US imports. This figure could rise in the upcoming talks, especially as India's trade pacts with Japan, South Korea, and ASEAN saw over 80 per cent of tariff lines reduced to zero. While negotiators are eyeing October as the tentative deadline for finalising a deal, progress in fresh rounds of talks could accelerate that timeline. Complicating India's position, however, is the possibility of China finalising a trade deal of its own, potentially locking in favorable tariff rates and securing waivers, including on penalties linked to Russian oil imports.
